Trump States Zelenskyy Is Unessential for US-Russia Discussions
Trump asserted that the United States and Ukraine could have persuaded Russia against invading Ukraine in 2022 and could have initiated discussions with Moscow years earlier.
Former President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not taking sufficient action to resolve the Russia–Ukraine conflict sooner, implying that the Ukrainian leader’s presence is not essential at every stage of peace negotiations.
Trump claimed that Zelenskyy missed previous opportunities to seek peace and is now hindering negotiations.
“To be honest, I don’t think he’s very important at meetings. He has been there for three years and complicates deal-making,” Trump told Fox News host Brian Kilmeade.
During the interview, Trump voiced his exasperation over the extensive destruction both sides have endured throughout the conflict. Kilmeade, at one point, suggested that Trump should direct his criticism toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he described as instigating an unjust invasion “to reclaim land he had no claim to.”
Trump acknowledged that Moscow bore responsibility for deploying troops into Ukraine, and mentioned that both Zelenskyy and former President Joe Biden “said the wrong things.”
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“Putin could have easily been persuaded not to act, but they lacked the necessary dialogue… I’m not attempting to make Putin appear more favorable,” Trump remarked. “The reality is that this war should never have occurred.”
Once the conflict erupted, the president emphasized that immediate efforts to negotiate a resolution should have commenced.
Ukrainian law prevents elections from being held during periods of martial law, and Zelenskyy would have been up for reelection last spring. The Ukrainian government has thus extended its martial law status continuously since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
In response to Trump’s recent remarks regarding elections in Ukraine and his approval ratings, Zelenskyy claimed on February 19 that Trump was being influenced by misleading information and was undermining efforts to diplomatically isolate Russia. Later that same day, Trump referred to Zelenskyy as a dictator while reiterating his calls for new elections in Ukraine.
Despite the visible tension between Trump and Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader expressed hope following a meeting on February 20 with retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Russia and Ukraine.
During their conversation, Zelenskyy discussed the current frontline situation of the war and emphasized the need for the return of Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia. He reiterated calls for security assurances to prevent Russia from reigniting the conflict.
The Trump administration has been in discussions with the Zelenskyy government regarding a deal that would grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s natural resources in exchange for ongoing support for the nation.
During a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland on February 21, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz stated, “President Zelenskyy is set to sign that deal, and you will witness it in the very near future.”
